Letters to the editor, week 36

Posted 9/1/09

Spectators made car show great

Editor,

Kudos to the people who sponsor, organize, and who donate time, money and lots of energy for the AuGres Car Cruise and Show held August 25th and 26th. We have been participating in your show and cruise for at least fifteen years and we find it a very enjoyable weekend. Well done! But alas, the show this year was not the cars, nor the people in the cars, nor the many volunteers and organizers for the event. It was the SPECTATORS! As most of you know it poured down rain during most of the car cruise. The show for us this year were the hundreds of loyal car lovers who stood out in the rain with umbrellas over their heads, tents, garbage bags and even upside down lawn chairs. Hooray for you resilient people for being there and cheering us on!!! We really appreciated your bright faces and encouragement. You made a very rainy, dreary ride into lots of fun.

The crazy get-ups, the waves, the signs and yes the "wet" people – we loved seeing you all this year! You the people were the show this year. And come rain or shine we’ll look for you again next year! KUDOS TO YOU!!!

Diane & Mike Baker

AuGres

Save Standish Max

Editor,

While we speculate how the Gitmo Detainees in our back yard may change our community, one thing is for certain: Our friends, neighbors and family members are in jeopardy of losing their jobs, and the community of losing its largest employer. It’s at times like these that we must come together as a community and show our support for the Standish Max Facility to remain open and functioning as it has for the past 19 years.

We have seen the fruits of our labor with the postponement of the closure to October 1. With rumors that there may be yet another closure delay, time is of the essence. It is imperative that each and every one of us gets involved and does our part to help our community. You can show your support by joining the Facebook Community “Save Standish Max”. This will give you the most up to date information as it happens and help us build our action team. Perhaps you would like to volunteer your time on Monday, Wednesday or Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and picket in front of the facility. Maybe you would like to join us for the bus trip to Lansing, possibly as early as September 8 or 9, and let your voice be heard on the floor of the State Capitol. If so, please contact the Resurrection of the Lord Catholic Church Office at 846-9565 to reserve your seat. As a former County Commissioner, I always welcomed contact from my constituents. If we do not tell our elected officials how we feel, how can they properly represent us? Please see below for a list of telephone numbers for your elected officials in Lansing and

Washington D.C:

Michigan Senator, Jim Barcia / 517-373-1777

Michigan Representative, Tim Moore / 866-MOORE-97

U.S. Representative, Bart Stupak / 202-225-4735

U.S. Senator, Carl Levin / 202-224-6221

U.S. Senator, Debbie Stabenow / 202-224-4822

Gov. Jennifer Granholm / 517-335-7858

This is a time for action, not for rolling over and letting a poor decision by Gov. Granholm devastate our community. Please take five minutes out of your busy day and let your voice be heard, for your family, friends and community. Together, we can!

Kelly Kimball

Standish

Make Cancer Care Affordable

Cancer patients across the country are digging into savings, risking financial ruin to pay for lifesaving treatment and care. One in four families affected by cancer says they’ve put off or delayed care in the last year because of cost, according to the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.

We cannot reduce death and suffering from cancer if we don’t improve access to quality, affordable healthcare across the country. Too many cancer patients are delaying or forgoing critical screenings and treatments because of problems accessing care.

I’m blessed to still be here because I have good insurance and my cancer was found and treated early. I had a very good friend, another volunteer for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, who wasn’t so fortunate. After losing her insurance coverage, due to her cancer, she lost everything before declaring bankruptcy, and passed away this summer. She told me once, "You know, I was never sick in my life, and due to one serious illness, we've lost everything, and my husband and

I will be working until we die." She was right. Her husband passed away last winter, having gone back to work after a quadruple heart by-pass. She worked until she was finally put in a hospital and died, from cancer complications.

Judy was one of millions of Americans that declare bankruptcy every year, due to serious illness. But even those who aren't to that point are desperate to find insurance that’ll cover them with preexisting conditions. I have people ask me, knowing I'm involved with ACS, how they can get health insurance. They're terrified that their cancer will come back, and they won't have money for check-ups and treatments.

I urge Senators Levin and Stabenow and Representative Stupak to guarantee quality, affordable insurance to all. Health reform is about saving lives and it is too important to stall. We need Congress to put aside partisan politics and act NOW, not later, for all of their constituents who have cancer, or could get cancer – **all of us. No cancer patient should be forced to make a decision between saving his/her life or his/her lifesavings.

Betsy Leadbetter

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Volunteer

Standish, Michigan

Good to see Sister Edith

Editor,

It was good to see Standish’s own Mother Theresa, Sister Edith Martinek back in town to visit her shut ins and friends.

Many, many friends were glad to see she is well and able. We were all glad to see her and express our love and gratitude for all she has done for this community and the Resurrection of the Lord Church for all these years. Thanks again Sister Edith, please visit us often.

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